Wire-stretcher.



No. 702,543 Patented lune l7,I902.

ALFREDCROSS 0F ALBERT. I

WIRE STBETCHER.

Application filed Oct. 14, 1901.)

(No Model.)

511 oeulo-p attozwur UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED oRoss or ALBERT, or MITCHELL, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

WIRE-SITRETCHER.

SPECIFIGATTON part of Letters Patent N0. 702,543, dated June 17, 1902.

Application filed October 14, 1901. $erial No. 78,609- (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED CRoss or AL- BERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mitchell, in the county of Lincoln and Territory of Oklahoma,have invented certain newsame.-

This invention provides a machine of novel construction designed, primarily, for tightening fence-wires and which may be used for stretching 'a line, wire, rope, or cable for splicing or anydesired purpose. The stretcher can be attached to a post or other anchoring means or may housed in mid-air, being attached to the ends of the wire or part to be strained, the ends of the wires or like part being firmly held during the splicing operation.

The stretcher besides being effective is'du rable and capable of being easily and conveniently handled by one person in any one of its several capabilities of use. 7

For a full, description of the invention and the meritsthereof,and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and draw ings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wirestretcher constructed in accordance withand embodying the essential features of the 'invention, the same being shown in position for tightening a fence-wire. Figl2is a-top plan View. Fig. 3 is a transverse section onithe line X-X of Fig. 2 looking to the left and showing the parts on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a wire-clamp, the parts being separated.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The device comprises a frame, a Windlass, operating and detent mechanisms cooperatclamp is connected to the Windlass 6.

'ing with; the Windlass, and clamps, the parts being'consti'ucted .in the manner substantiallyas illustrated and hereinafter set forth in detail;

I The frameisoblongand is narrow atone end and widened at the opposite end, which receivesthe operating-mechanism. In-itsconstruction the frame is composed of longitudinal bars 1 and end bars 2 and 3, recessed at their ends to receive the end portions of the longitudinal bars,.as shown most clearly in Fig. 1,'the several bars being secured in any substantial way. The longitudinal bars 1 are offset, as shown at 4., so as towiden the space between the end portions 5, between which the Windlass 6 and drive-shaft 7 are located.

The frame-bars are preferably of metal, for

strength, durability, and compactness of construction. The end bar 2 is centrally apertured for the passage therethr'ough of a cord or rope 8, by means of which the movable The end bar 3 is formed with -a hook-shaped lug 9,'with whichthe' cam-lever IO-cooperates 7 when it is required to grip awire or other part, as shown by-the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The cam-lever 10 is pivoted to the end bar 3 at one side of thehook-shaped lug 9. The Windlass disjburnaledat itsends in the end portions 5of'the longitudinal bars 1 and has a longitudinal slot 11, through which the cord or rope 8 is passed for securement thereof to the Windlass. The heads 12 and 13, forming an integral part of the Windlass, havea portion toothed, as shown at 14, to intermesh with pinions 15 near the ends of the shaft '7, journaled in the endportions 5 of the bars 1 'parallel with the Windlass 6, an end portion of the shaft being extended and provided with a crank --16,-by means of which power is applied tothe shaft for rotation thereof when itis'required to turn the Windlass 6 to effect a straining of the wire or like part to be drawn taut. 'By having two pinions, as15, and 10- cating, them near the ends of' the'shaft 7 all tendency to torsional strainkis obviated and the work is equalized upon the shaft and Windlass, which isa desideratum and results in greater ease of operation. One of the windlass-heads, as 13, is provided'with ratchetteeth 17, and a pawl 18, pivoted to an end portion of a side bar 1, cooperates with the ratchet-teeth 17 to prevent backward rotation of the Windlass when the crank 16 is released. The pawl 18 is provided with a series of teeth for engagement with a corresponding number of teeth 17, thereby increasing and adding to the durability of the machine.

The movable clamp consists of a plate 19, having a hook-shaped lug 20 at one end and edge, and this plate is widened at the end having the hook-shaped lug 20 and is made narrow at the opposite end, the contracted end having an opening 21 to receive an end portion of the cord or rope 8, which is secured thereto in any way, preferably by having its terminal portion knotted, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 1. A lever 22 is provided at one end with a cam-head 23, toothed at its outer edge, and its opposite end is bent or otherwise provided with a hook 21 to engage with the rope or cord 8 and prevent slipping or outward displacement of the lever when in operation, this being shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. The wire or other part to be stretched is held by the movable clamp, being gripped between the lug 20 and cam-head 23 of the lever 22, after which the hooked end 21 is engaged with the cord or rope 8, so as to prevent any slipping of the part 25 when subjected to tension.

NVhen it is required to stretch a fence-wire, the machine is anchored to a post 26 by means of a chain 27, the latter being attached at its ends to projecting end portions of the longitudinal bars 1, said chain being provided at any convenient point with a hook'an'd ring to admit of it being passed around a post either when it is required to apply it thereto or remove it therefrom. The wire to be stretched is engaged by the movable clamp and is drawn taut by winding the rope or cord upon the Windlass 6 by means of the crank 10, shaft 7, and intermeshing eog-gear ing 15 and 14. Should it be required to splice a wire, the end portions are gripped by the fixed and movable clamps and are drawn together by rotation of the Windlass until the end portions overlap sufficiently to admit of their being twisted together in the well-known way.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a wire-stretcher, a frame, a Windlass having integral heads and terminal journals mounted in the said frame, and having a longitudinal slot, the heads having a portion toothed and one-of the headshaving integral ratchet-teeth, an operating-shaft journaled at its ends in the said frame and provided at or near its ends with pinions in mesh with the toothed portions of the Windlass-heads, a pawl cooperating with the said ratchet-teeth, a

fixed and a movable grip, and a cord having one end passed through the longitudinal slot of the Windlass audits other end attached to the movable grip, substantially as described.

2. A wire-stretcher, comprising longitudinal bars offset between their terminals, end bars of difierent lengths joining the longitudinal bars and having their extremities recessed to receive them, the shorter bar being centrally apertured, and the longer bar having an integral lug, a cam-lever fulerumed on the longer end bar for cooperation with the lug thereof, a Windlass journaled between the more widely spaced longitudinal framebars, and a movable grip connected with the Windlass by means of a cord or rope which passes through the opening in the shorter end frame-bar, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED CROSS Ol ALBERT.

WVitnesses:

GLAIDYS L. THOMPSON, GnNEvInvE lVlA'lflI-IEWS. 

